Yesterday at the diner in Red Hook, New York, I painted Tom sitting at the counter reading his paper.
Since he had finished his meal before I started sketching, I guessed he wouldn't be there long. So I skipped the pencil lay-in stage and dove in with flat brushes, painting shape against shape. I surrounded his red shirt with blues and greens for contrast.
Sure enough, Tom got up and left after ten minutes. Right about then our steaming plates of scrambled eggs arrived to our booth table covered with art supplies. I put the watercolors away and finished up the sketch later, looking at an empty counter.
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Shout-out to blog reader Whiskey from Connecticut. Thanks for saying hi. Hope you had a nice meal and ride to the Catskills.
This is an outstanding painting, James. It's one that I would have loved to see in-progress steps of, but as you describe the process, it's clear that wouldn't have been possible. I think I see some touches of opaque - gouache or casein?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tom! I'm sorry I forgot my camera. You would have laughed to see it in its early stages. The waitress saw the red and green shapes and thought I was painting a tomato and lettuce on a hamburger bun.
ReplyDeleteYes, there are a few touchups with white gouache, but otherwise it's pretty thin and transparent.
Another beautiful study James. I really love this one. I like the sense of airiness in the areas surrounding the figure and great drawing even though you had to skip the lay-in stage in the beginning. Sometimes that works better.
ReplyDeleteOne other thing is for sure after seeing so many of these little sketchbook paintings. You really like eating breakfast!
Amazing the way you can catch the character of a person.
ReplyDelete-Jeff
When will your next instructional painting video be available?
ReplyDeleteJim, I'm working on the edit now, and hope to have it available in a month or less.
ReplyDeleteNo pencil lay in!??! Does not compute over here. This is too good!
ReplyDeletedang, nailed that one!!! so right
ReplyDeletebeautiful painting!!
ReplyDeletethank you mr.James Gurney for informing us with such beautiful informative paintings i enjoy every bit of it. i wish if i could see the processing, i feel jealous of the painter.
ReplyDelete